Monitoring in Malaysia, and the 1,000 Ship Navy

Malaysia & the Strait

Techno-Sciences Inc. in Beltsville, MD received an $11 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, fixed-price contract for technical support to the Malaysian Integrated Maritime Surveillance System (IMSS) to include upgrades to a command center and coastal surveillance stations in Malaysia. Work will be performed in Beltsville, Maryland (50%), and at sites throughout Malaysia (50%), and is expected to be completed September 2009. This contract was awarded as a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, Phase 3 follow-on contract, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2301-c-5. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego, CA issued the contract (N66001-07-C-0146).

Readers who have been paying attention may have noted another surveillance contract aimed at monitoring a strategic waterway: Yemen’s coastal radar set that will watch the Horn of Africa and gateway to the Suez Canal. Malaysia stands astride the Straits of Malacca, arguably the world’s business and most critical shipping lane with some piracy and terrorism issues all its own. The US Navy is preparing to unveil a new Maritime Strategy in October 2007, and these kinds of quiet “Maritime Domain Awareness” contracts fit neatly with concepts like CNO (and soon CJCS) Mike Mullen’s concept of the “1,000 ship navy” [article | quotes], where vessels and related naval assets from different countries that work together to keep order on the high seas.

$28.7M for MTTC to Improve US Navy Processes & Products

MTTC

Innovative Productivity Incorporated (IPI) in Louisville, KY received a $28.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, level of effort contract for the operation and management of the McConnell Technology and Training Center (MTTC). The focus of the work will be to identify and/or develop innovative technologies, processes and concepts, with a focus on reducing operating costs and increasing product quality. MTTC will enhance selected technologies and technology transfers between DOD and private industry, and/or develop them where appropriate.

IPI is a partner in the US Navy’s Fleet Maintenance Reduction Program (FMRP), which helps the Navy resolve nagging and costly shipboard problems by inserting innovative products and technologies; the US Navy estimates that the MTTC projects will save approximately $1 Billion over the next 15 years. IPI also runs the National Surface Treatment Center which works with the Navy on corrosion issues, and the firm offers Quality Management and Business & Industrial Skills Programs that include Six Sigma, Lean strategies, and ISO certification.

Work will be performed in Louisville, KY and is expected to be completed by September 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $10.4 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in Carderock, MD (N00167-07-C-0008)

$39.4M to Support the US Presidential Helicopter Fleet

VH-60N, VH-3D

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT received a $39.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for the VH-3D/VH-60N Executive Helicopter Special Progressive Aircraft Rework Contract. It covers security manpower, security maintenance support, VH-3D (Marine One Sea King derivative) project engineering support, VH-60N (Marine One Black Hawk derivative) project engineering support, VH integrated logistic support, VH on-site training, technical manuals, technical manuals contractor support, technical manuals travel, program support and a quality engineer.

Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, and is expected to be complete in September 2008. This contract was not competitively procured by The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-07-D-0004).

The VH-3D and VH-60N Presidential helicopters are scheduled to be replaced by the EH101-derived VH-71, beginning in 2009.